Professionele reviews
Robert Parker (97)
The 2017 Blanc prances out of the glass with pretty, cheerful scents of fresh green apples, lemongrass, lime leaves and white peaches plus spicy touches of fresh ginger, coriander seed and white pepper. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic intensity and tension, with a racy backbone cutting through the tightly knit citrus and spice layers, finishing long and mineral laced.
James Suckling (97)
This is fabulous white with sliced apples, pears, stones, flint and light cream. Really incredible. Full-bodied, yet so tight and polished with superb finesse and density at the same time. A fantastic Smith white. A blend of 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% sauvignon gris and 5% semillon. Drink or hold.
Jancis Robinson (16.50)
90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon, 5% Sauvignon Gris.
Tasted blind. Mid straw. Neat wine that gets the saliva going but initially seems a little dull after the glories that preceded it. Very correct but I’m looking for the thrill. Too tense for its own good. Though the finish is quite long.
Vinous (96)
The 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage. Rich, voluptuous and creamy, the 2017 has so much to offer. Citrus peel, white flowers and mint are all generous in the glass. More than that, the 2017 offers an interplay of tension and textural opulence that is incredibly appealing. The blend is 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris.
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
One of the whites of the vintage is the 2017 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, which is based on 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% each of Sauvignon Gris and Semillon. Offering a huge, salty, mineral-laced bouquet of crushed lemons, acacia flowers, pineapple, and crushed rocks, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, racy acidity, a stacked mid-palate, and a crisp, chiseled, lengthy finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It has the fruit and texture to drink nicely even today, yet my money is on it benefiting from 2-4 years of bottle age, and it should have over two decades of longevity.
Decanter (97)
Floral and acacia aromas, with lemongrass, sweet herb, juicy pear, wet stone and white pepper. Full-bodied and creamy in texture, but with exquisite brightness, balance and refinement, and a touch of nutmeg spice. The long finish reveals quince, fresh pineapple, lime and orange peel. Bring out lobster and butter.
